By RUSSELL BENNETT
ELLINBANK AND DISTRICT FOOTBALL LEAGUE
INTERLEAGUE 2016
IT’S no coincidence that a playing group led by Matt Gray and Shane Brewster would stand dead silent at complete attention as former St Kilda star Aussie Jones ran through its plans and structures.
Two of the most accomplished players – not only in the EDFL but in Gippsland footy – Gray and Brewster have long set the tone at their respective clubs when it comes to their professionalism and Sunday morning at a busy P3 Sports and Recovery in Berwick they had their eyes fixed on Ellinbank interleague coach Jones and his trusty whiteboard.
On one side of the board was the likely line-up for this Saturday’s big game against the Southern Football League at Marriott Waters Reserve. On the other side, four words in particular stood out: ‘Always – united, honest, confident’.
That sums up the mantra of the side put together by Jones and his assistants, P3 business partner and two-time Cora Lynn premiership coach Travis Marsham, Bunyip player-coach and inspirational former premiership captain Brad Walker, and Brewster.
It’s not a list of the 22 biggest names or so called ‘best players’ in the competition. It’s a list of the available players most likely to win a crunch game on the big stage.
They stood together, from a variety of different clubs – some bitter rivals at league level – but united for the cause. Jones and his coaching panel were honest about the selection of the side. The playing group, itself, had a steely confident resolve.
There are 14 changes in the selected side from the group that took on, and soundly beat, Maryborough Castlemaine on the road last year.
Gray and Brewster are two of the oldest players (in addition to Ben Miller) at 31, while first-time senior interleague representative Dylan Wilson is just 18.
Jones, Marsham, Walker and Brewster have shown plenty of confidence in the league’s young talent with Wilson joined in the side by tireless Poowong backman Tim Hancock and Dusties midfield ace Tyson Bale.
This EDFL group is packed with star power – including the likes of Chris Urie, Tim Miller, Nathan Lieshout, Anthony Giuliano, Ben Kerrigan and Tye Holland. But its guiding principle is all about defence. When the SFL has the Sherrin, every EDFL player will be a defender, with their ability to communicate with and cover for their team mates absolutely vital on a ground that’s noticeably bigger than even Garfield’s Beswick Street ground. The Marriott Waters surface is eight metres longer and five wider.
Speaking to the Gazette recently, Jones – who is no longer involved in clubland – said he couldn’t wait for the challenge.
“Anyone who played last year, in that group, would be able to talk about what a positive experience it was and what they got out of it,” he said, before explaining the likely make-up of this year’s side.
“The back six (this Saturday) will actually be defenders, or the sixth might be someone who’s pretty flexible,” he said.
“I’m also big on playing a big forward who can ruck, so we’ll be looking for someone like that rather than a genuine second ruck.”
As for the difference in competition set-up this season, Jones said it had a completely different feel.
“With the country rankings, you know roughly how the opposition side is going to shape up,” he said.
“Normally the margin wouldn’t be a huge blowout either way, but this year it’s a real unknown.
“The governing body would have looked at it and pitted us against the Southern footy league thinking it’s about square, but it’s really an unknown on the professionalism of metro footy versus country footy.
“We’ll find out pretty quick.”
This Saturday marks the first time senior interleague matches will be staged at the brand new facility – the home of the Lyndhurst Lightning.
It allows for interleague football and netball to be held at the same time and is in one of the south-east’s biggest growth corridors.
In an article on the Southern Football Netball League website, league CEO David Cannizzo said it was excited to be hosting both football and netball interleague clashes for the first time, and added that the new venue would provide a new level of professionalism.
“Our focus over the last three years has been to improve the professionalism and development experience of the entire representative program,” Cannizzo said.
“This has taken another positive step forward this year with training based out of Bentleigh Reserve, which is a quality Division 1 venue, and playing at Lyndhurst (which) makes a lot of sense geographically, considering our opposition is from the East.
“We are very grateful to AFL Victoria for providing the SFNL hosting rights and we look forward to putting on a wonderful show, not just on the field and court, but off them as well.”
The Under 19s launch the first interleague netball game at 10.00am, with B Grade and A Grade matches to follow, while the Under 18 boys kick off the interleague footy action at noon. The opening bounce of the senior football clash will be at 2.35pm.
